Table protector device



April 4&9 H950 R. F. WEIL. 2,502,771

TABLE PROTECTOR DEVICE Filed Jan. 25, 1947 ,y il

Y INVENTOR. [www 'mm m" /df Wf/ if Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PArsNroFFlcE Application January 25, 1947, Serial No. 724,402

" In Switzerland February 5, 1945 This invention relates to table protectors and more particularly to devices for temporarily protecting the projecting part of a table or bench top, etc. on which kitchen utensils, machines or other articles are to be fastened or clamped and for removal therefrom.

it is an object of the present invention to provide means for protecting that part of the table top on which household machines or like appliances are to be secured or clamped on without injuring or damaging such part of the table top.

It is another object of the invention to provide protection against clamping marks or other damages caused by the fastening of kitchen or similar utensils to table tops only temporarily and for the time such utensils are operated on a table or bench top, thus not aifecting the general appearance of such table or bench when not being used for the fastening or clamping on of a kitchen or similar appliance.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means facilitating ready adjustment of the protector device according to the respective height or thickness of the table plate.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means facilitating the fixation of appliances to table tops and the like and preventing slipping or displacement of such appliances relative to their location of xation.

Yet, another object of the invention is to provide means rendering possible the attachment of household or similar appliances to a table top either lengthwise or across the corner thereof whereby the table top is eectively prevented from pressure marks and similar damages.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide means permitting mass production of a table top protector which consists only of a few parts, is sturdy in construction and eicien-t in operation and permits of being folded substantially into a single plane for storing or shipping purposes so that considerable space and material may be saved.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the accompanying drawin in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table. protector made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 shows the table protector of Fig. 1 in adjusted position and applied to a table top; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in particular to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a table top protector de- 1 Clanl. (Cl. 311-103) vice I0 made in accordance with this invention. 56

This device consists of a top plate II having a knurled or roughened surface portion I2 and a bottom plate I3. The bent or rolled over opposite ends I4, I5 of top plate I I and the rolled opposite ends IS, I'I of bottom plate I3 are interconnected by respective members or vhinge means I8, i9 which, in the present instance, consist of two l.shaped rod pieces of wire material, such as I8a, I8?) which in assembled condition tightly t within and are telescopically interconnected by a sleeve or tube member 20. Oppositely arranged to sleeve or tube member 20 is a tube or sleeve member 2| which similarly telescopically interconnects the L-shaped rod pieces ISa, |919 forming U-shaped member I9, whereby the distance between plates II and I3 may be further telescopically extended, as will be easily understood.

Underneath top plate I I there is disposed a felt layer 22 which is adapted to be placed on the upper surface 23 of the top 24 of a table or bench. as can be seen from Fig. 2.

Device l!) is shown in somewhat adjusted condition whereby the felt layer 22 is in contact with the upper surface 23, whereas the bottom plate I3 is disposed in contact with the underface 25 of the table or bench 24.

Fig. 2 further shows the application of the clamping device 26 of a kitchen appliance 21, whereby the pressure exerted by the clamp proper 28 will be directed against the underface of bottom plate I3 and the upper face part I2 of top plate II, while the felt layer 22 effectively cushions the top surface 23 and protects the same from any damages exerted by the clamping pressure.

In order to transform the protector device into collapsed condition so that it assumes a substantially at position, all that is to be done is to press the upper plate II against the lower plate I3 so that the ends of the U-shaped wire members I8, I9 which are positioned at one side only of the plate members and articulate thereto, respectively, in sleeve-forming ends I4, I6 and I5, I1, will turn therewithin.

It can thus be seen that there has been pro- `vided according to this invention a protector device for tops of tables, benches and like supports comprising two elongated plate members, upper and lower, respectively, means positioned at one side of said plate members and articulating one member to the other member, whereby the distance between said members may be varied, and cushioning means attached to the underface of said upper member for preventing damage to the top of a support when pressure is applied to the latter from one of said members in the direction to said other member.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore explained or shown in the accompanying drawing, are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by -Letters Patent, is:

A protector device for the tops of tables, benches and like supports comprising two elongated plate members, upper plate member and lower plate member, respectively, each having two opposite ends, said opposite ends of each plate member being shaped to form sleeves, said upper plate member having a roughened portion on its upper face and a cushioned portion at its underface to thereby protect the top of the table and to afford placement of an article on said roughened plate member portion, L-shaped rod members positioned in said sleeves of said upper 2 and lower plate members, respectively, and terminating in projecting end pieces, said projecting end pieces extending from said sleeves of said upper and said lower plate members, respectively, toward each other and being in alignment with each other, and tubular means embracing said projecting end pieces, respectively, whereby one plate member is articulated with respect to the other plate member so that the distance between said plate members may be changed, said projecting end pieces being telescopically mov-4 able within said tubular means to afford further regulation of the distance between said plate members.

RUDOLF F. WEIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,630,889 Clarke May 31, 1927 1,631,355 Baldwin June 7, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 397,812 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1933 245.025 Switzerland June 16. 1947 

